Modular concealable armored garment and system

ABSTRACT

A modular concealable armored garment and system to be worn under shirts, blouses, tunics, and the like, can include an armored front or chest panel, an armored rear or back panel, and two side panels, all of which panels can be individually selected by size and/or shape from a supply of interchangeable ones of the panels having different dimensions, to provide a custom fit, and the side panels connecting to the chest and back panels with ends of the side panels concealed, while allowing relative movement of the panels for comfort and range of motion. As one manner of concealment, the ends of the side panels are rounded, and overlapped by the associated chest or back panel, and connect to the associated chest or back panel in a manner to provide relative movement while maintaining the overlap, to provide mobility and flexibility.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/926,171, filed Jan. 10, 2014.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to concealable armored garments, suchas, vests to be worn under shirts, blouses, tunics, etc., and moreparticularly, to a garment and a system which is modular comprising in apreferred configuration, an armored front or chest panel, an armoredrear or back panel, and two side panels, all of which panels can beindividually selected by size and/or shape from a supply ofinterchangeable ones of the panels having different dimensions, toprovide a custom fit, and the side panels connecting to the chest andback panels with ends of the side panels concealed, while allowingrelative movement of the panels for comfort and range of motion.

BACKGROUND ART

U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/926,171, filed Jan. 10, 2014, isincorporated herein by reference in its entireties.

Presently available known concealable armored garments are custom sizedand shaped for the wearer, and typically include a front or chestarmored panel and a rear or back armored panel, each contained in afabric cover and joined at the top by shoulder straps, and one of whichincludes side armored extensions that extend outwardly from the lowerside edges of the panel to overlap the other panel, or both of whichpanels include side extensions that overlap at the side of the person.

When the garment is worn, the shoulder straps extend over the wearersshoulders, and the side extensions on each side are joined together inoverlapping relation using any of a variety of fasteners, e.g., hook andloop type fasteners.

Observed problems with the known garments, include an obvious presenceof the vest, by virtue of the overlapping extensions on the sides, whichtypically protrude or misshape the overlying garment. Another problem isfit. If the person for whom the vest was custom fitted grows orotherwise changes in one or more dimensions, the armored garment willnot longer properly fit, and may be more easily visible or provideinadequate protection. Typically, when this occurs the garment must becompletely replaced, at substantial cost.

What is sought is a concealable armored garment and/or system, thatachieves one or more of the advantages, and overcomes one or more of theproblems and shortcomings, set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is disclosed is a modular concealable armored garment and/orsystem, that achieves one or more of the advantages, and overcomes oneor more of the problems and shortcomings, set forth above.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, a concealable armoredgarment and system of the invention include a front or chest panel of anarmored material, configured to be worn in covering relation to aperson's chest, including a lower portion configured to cover andprovide forwardly facing ballistic protection for the person's stomachor front abdomen region, the lower portion having generally forwardlyfacing first and second forward side portions including first connectingelements, respectively. The garment and system include a rear or backpanel of an armored material, configured to be worn in covering relationto the person's back, including a lower portion configured to cover andprovide rearwardly facing ballistic protection for the person's lowerback region, the lower portion having generally rearwardly facing firstand second rear side portions including second connecting elements,respectively. The garment and system has two side panels, each having anelongate shape terminating at opposite rounded ends. The side panelseach have third and fourth connecting elements connected thereto spacedfrom the opposite rounded ends, respectively. The third and fourthconnecting elements are configured to be positioned over the oppositerounded ends, respectively, and to connect to the first and secondconnecting elements, respectively, on each side, to connect the sidepanels to the chest and back panels with the rounded ends at leastsubstantially concealed by the side portions, respectively.

As another optional preferred aspect of the invention, the connectingelements comprise hook and loop fasteners, although alternatives such asvarious mechanical fasteners such as buttons, clasps, snaps, zippers,laces, or other fasteners, and adhesives panels or patches, can be usedfor one or more of the connections between the panels. As anotheroptional preferred aspect, the third and fourth connecting elements areresiliently connected to the side panels to allow resilient relativemovements of the chest and back panels and the side panels, with therounded ends of the side panels remaining at least substantiallyconcealed to accommodate natural body movements without revealing thepresence of the garment. As a non-limiting example, the connectingelements can be connected to the side panels by elastic strips or panelsstretchable and flexible to a limited extent, sufficient to provide thedesired body movements, while still retaining the panels in desiredcovering and conforming relation to the associated side body region,namely, the side of the abdomen or lower torso. This is advantageous, asit resiliently holds and pulls or snugs the panels in generallyconforming relation to the covered region of the person's body so as tofollow the shape and contours of it to facilitate concealment under anoverlaying garment, such as a shirt, blouse, tunic, jacket, etc. Theelastic strips or panels can be attached directly to a side, chest,and/or back panel, or can include a suitable fastener connection such asdiscussed above, to allow removal, reconnection, etc., for donning,doffing, interchanging, replacing of panels, and the like. The upperends of the panels can be suitably connected, for instance, usingshoulder straps, which can be integrated into one or both chest and backpanels or can be separate, as desired or required for a particularapplication. The shoulder straps also can be of a resilient flexiblematerial such as an elastic material, so as to conform to the underlyingshoulders in a concealing manner.

As a preferred optional aspect of the invention, the side panels are ofan armored material, but alternatively, can be of fabric or othernon-armored material.

As still another optional preferred aspect of the invention, at leastone, and most preferably both, of the chest and back panels can beselected from a set or kit of a plurality of the panels having differentcharacteristics, particularly, different dimensions and shapesconfigured for better protecting different bodies. In particular, eachof the different panels can have a different height dimension forpersons of different torso heights; different widths for persons ofdifferent width torsos; and/or different shapes, for persons with largerupper bodies, persons with larger lower bodies, different genders suchas for accommodating female body shapes, etc. In this regard, as anon-limiting example, the panels can have side edges that taperconvergingly upwardly or downward, a barrel shape, or other shapegenerally following a human body profile shape. As a result, the armoredgarment can be quickly created that is custom fit to an individualperson's body, and allowing replacement of any of the panels with apanel of a different size as the person's body changes in dimensions,taper, etc., all without requiring custom cutting and fitting of thepanels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a modular concealable armoredgarment and system of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing aspects of a modular concealablearmored garment system of the invention, including interchangeablearmored panels of different sizes and shapes combinable to providecustomized armored garments for a range of potential wearers havingdifferent body sizes and shapes;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a concealable armoredgarment of the invention, illustrating a manner of attachment of a sidepanel thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a concealable armored garment of theinvention, illustrating with arrows how the garment can be donned.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, various embodiments of a modular concealablearmored garment 20, and system 22 of the invention are shown, comprisinga front or chest panel 24 of an armored material, configured to be wornin covering relation to a person's chest 26, including a lower portion28 configured to cover and provide forwardly facing ballistic protectionfor the person's front abdomen or stomach region 30, the lower portion28 having generally forwardly facing first and second forward sideportions 32, 34 including first connecting elements 36, respectively.

Garment 20 and system 22 comprises a rear or back panel 38 of an armoredmaterial, configured to be worn in covering relation to the person'sback 40, including a lower portion 42 configured to cover and providerearwardly facing ballistic protection for the person's lower backregion 44, the lower portion 42 having generally rearwardly facing firstand second rear side portions 46, 48, including second connectingelements 50, respectively.

Garment 20 and system 22 has two side panels 52, each having an elongateshape terminating at opposite rounded ends 54. The side panels 52 eachhave third and fourth connecting elements 56, 58 connected theretospaced from the opposite rounded ends 54, respectively. The third andfourth connecting elements 56, 58 being configured to be positioned overthe opposite rounded ends 54, respectively and to connect to the firstand second connecting elements 36, 38, respectively, on each side, toconnect the side panels 52 to the chest and back panels 24, 38, with therounded ends 54 at least substantially concealed by the side portions32, 34, 46, and 48 thereof, respectively.

The side panels 52 are of an armored material, but alternatively, can beof fabric or other non-armored material.

The connecting elements 36, 50, 56, and 58 here comprise hook and loopfasteners. The third and fourth connecting elements 56, 58 areresiliently connected to the side panels 52, to allow resilient relativemovements of the chest and back panels 24, 38, and the side panels 52,with the rounded ends 54 of the side panels 52 remaining at leastsubstantially concealed, as illustrated by arrows in FIG. 1, toaccommodate natural body movements without revealing the presence of thegarment. As a non-limiting example, the connecting elements areconnected to the side panels 52, by elastic strips 64, stretchable andflexible to a limited extent, sufficient to provide the desired bodymovements, while still retaining the panels in conforming relation. Thisis advantageous, as it resiliently holds and pulls or snugs the panelsin generally conforming relation to the person's body so as to followthe shape and contours of it to facilitate concealment under anoverlaying garment, such as a shirt, blouse, tunic, jacket, etc. Theupper ends of the panels can be suitably connected, for instance, usingshoulder straps 60, which can be integrated into one or both panels 24,38, or separate, as illustrated, as desired or required for a particularapplication, and which also can be of a resilient flexible material suchas an elastic, so as to conform to the underlying shoulders in aconcealing manner.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, chest and back panels 24, 38 are selected froma kit comprising a plurality of panels 24, 38 having differentdimensions. In particular, each of the different panels 24, 38, can havea different height dimension H, and/or a different width dimension W,and/or a different shape, such as side edges that taper converginglyupwardly or downward, a barrel shape, or other shape generally followinga human body profile shape. Illustrated as a non-limiting example, is afitting kit 60 including different interchangeable panels havingdifferent height dimensions H1, H2, H3, . . ., Hn, and different widthdimensions W1, W2, W3, . . . , Wn; and optionally different shapes,e.g., taper, etc., and dimensioned and/or shaped side panels 52 having,for instance, different heights H and widths W, allowing creating agarment 20 that is custom fit to an individual person's body, andallowing replacement of any of the panels with a panel of a differentsize as the person's body changes in dimensions H, W, taper, etc. Asanother non-limiting example, it is contemplated that a sizing kit for amilitary or law enforcement unit could have 10 to 20 or more differentsizes for each of the chest, back, and side panels of a system of theinvention.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, it can be observed that the garment 20 iseasily donned, by connecting the side panels 52 first to the back panel38, then placing the garment over the person's head, and attaching theside panels to the chest panel. The rounded ends 54 will be tuckedbehind the associated chest or back panel, so as to be concealed, andheld in position by the elasticity of the elastic strips 64 (FIGS. 1-3).

In light of all the foregoing, it should thus be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that there has been shown and described a MODULARCONCEALABLE ARMORED GARMENT AND SYSTEM. However, it should also beapparent that, within the principles and scope of the invention, manychanges are possible and contemplated, including in the details,materials, and arrangements of parts which have been described andillustrated to explain the nature of the invention. Thus, while theforegoing description and discussion addresses certain preferredembodiments or elements of the invention, it should further beunderstood that concepts of the invention, as based upon the foregoingdescription and discussion, may be readily incorporated into or employedin other embodiments and constructions without departing from the scopeof the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended toprotect the invention broadly as well as in the specific form shown, andall changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applicationswhich do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention aredeemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by theclaims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A concealable armored garment, comprising: achest panel of an armored material, configured to be worn in coveringrelation to a person's chest, including a lower portion configured tocover and provide forwardly facing ballistic protection for the person'sstomach region, the lower portion having generally forwardly facingfirst and second forward side portions including first connectingelements, respectively; a back panel of an armored material, configuredto be worn in covering relation to the person's back, including a lowerportion configured to cover and provide rearwardly facing ballisticprotection for the person's lower back region, the lower portion havinggenerally rearwardly facing first and second rear side portionsincluding second connecting elements, respectively; and at least oneside panel, having an elongate shape terminating at opposite roundedends, the side panel having third and fourth connecting elementsconnected thereto spaced from the opposite rounded ends, respectively,the third and fourth connecting elements being configured to bepositioned over the opposite ends, respectively and to connect to thefirst and second connecting elements, to connect the side panel to thechest and back panels with the rounded ends at least substantiallyconcealed by the side portions thereof, respectively.
 2. The concealablearmored garment of claim 1, wherein the side panel is of an armoredmaterial.
 3. The concealable armored garment of claim 1, comprising twoof the side panels.
 4. The third and fourth connecting elementsconnected thereto spaced from the opposite rounded ends.
 5. Theconcealable armored garment of claim 1, wherein the connecting elementscomprise hook and loop fasteners.
 6. The concealable armored garment ofclaim 1, wherein the third and fourth connecting elements areresiliently connected to the side panel, to allow resilient relativemovements of the chest and back panels, and the side panel, with therounded ends of the side panels remaining at least substantiallyconcealed.
 7. The concealable armored garment of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the chest and back panels are selected from a plurality ofpanels having different dimensions.
 8. The concealable armored garmentof claim 1, wherein the garment is modular, to allow disconnection andreplacement of any of the panels with a panel of a different size.
 9. Amodular concealable armored garment system, comprising: a plurality ofarmored chest panels of different sizes, the chest panels beingconfigured to be interchangeably worn in covering relation to a person'schest, each of the chest panels including a lower portion configured tocover and provide forwardly facing ballistic protection for the person'sstomach region, the lower portion having generally forwardly facingfirst and second forward side portions including first connectingelements, respectively; a plurality of armored back panels of differentsizes, each of the back panels being configured to be interchangeablyworn in covering relation to the person's back, each of the back panelsincluding a lower portion configured to cover and provide rearwardlyfacing ballistic protection for the person's lower back region, thelower portion having generally rearwardly facing first and second rearside portions including second connecting elements, respectively; atleast one side panel, having an elongate shape terminating at oppositerounded ends, the side panel having third and fourth connecting elementsconnected thereto spaced from the opposite rounded ends, respectively,the third and fourth connecting elements being configured to bepositioned over the opposite ends, respectively and to connect to thefirst and second connecting elements of a selected one of the chestpanels and a selected one of the back panels, to connect the side panelto the selected chest and back panels with the rounded ends at leastsubstantially concealed by the side portions thereof, respectively, and;wherein the selected one of the chest panels and the selected one of theback panels have been selected to fit dimensions of the person's body,and can be replaced by others of the chest and back panels,respectively, if the dimensions change.
 10. The system of claim 9,wherein the side panel is of an armored material.
 11. The system ofclaim 9, comprising two of the side panels.
 12. The system of claim 9,wherein the third and fourth connecting elements are connected to theside panel by a stretchable elastic material stretchable to allowrelative movements of the panels when connected.
 13. The system of claim9, wherein the connecting elements comprise hook and loop fasteners. 14.The system of claim 9, wherein the third and fourth connecting elementsare resiliently connected to the side panel, to allow resilient relativemovements of the chest and back panels, and the side panel, with therounded ends of the side panels remaining at least substantiallyconcealed.
 15. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one sidepanel is selected from a plurality of side panels having differentdimensions.